Yoga in the Salt Cave

I am teaching a series of yoga classes at the magical Bolton Salt Cave!!

This place is absolutely incredible! Enjoy a blissful yoga practice while enjoying all the benefits of halo therapy, in this stunning environment. Classes are limited to 12 people, and booked in advance through me. Sundays, 11am, $35pp plus tax ($39.55). The dates are as follows:

Sunday April 8

Sunday April 22

Sunday May 6

more dates to come. Message me to reserve your spot! rockinfitmomma@outlook.com

Update: Long overdue

I haven't updated my blog in a while, so Im doing a big catch up!!

I realized I didn't even post about having baby #2!! well, it happened, and she is actually now 9 months! nuts. As I have shared my pregnancy and post preggo journey a bit here with Lennon, I thought Id post a bit about baby #2 as well.

Little Dylan Scarlett Caruso was welcomed June 28, 2017. &lbs 4oz, almost the same weight as her big sis, and pretty much almost the same birth story....

My dream of having a natural at home childbirth was also not a reality with this gal either...and no more babies for us so that dream is lost- all good!! although I was upset, both my babies were born healthy and happy, and both births outside of the fact I had to be in the hospital were pretty easy. I had a great pregnancy with this one as well, and even faster recovery. I worked right up until basically she was born, and pretty much went back to work with newborn in tow 2 weeks post. With my line of work, its a blessing I can bring my baby with me, but I don't get mat leave and I wouldn't expect clients to wait for me... so Dylan was my sidekick at work until about 8 months (she started crawling and standing and that was it)

As for me, I gained 3 more pounds with little D than I did with Lennon (27 with Lennon, 30 with Dylan)

but made sure post I exercised and kept my diet in check and I felt pretty much back to normal after 3 months. I am now back at my pre pregnancy weight and just doing my best to juggle work and the 2 kiddos now. Couldn't believe I could love another human as much as I did my Lennon, but there is def just as much for my little one, and seeing them together my hearts just melts...

Easy Toddler breakfast Ideas

If you've got a toddler- you know it ain't easy most of the time. This is why I pre-make most of her breakfasts. Muffins and squares are easily stored in the freezer and I can just take out a few for the week and pack with some berries and she;s good to go. I do try to change it up so she doesn't get bored so I'm always trying out new things. This Chia pudding recipe is crazy easy and you can make the night before. A small jar of this is enough for 2 days, with some homemade granola and some fruit, we're rockin. You can make this plain with just the chia seeds and milk, or you can try my version below, its got a few extras for added nutrients and flavour. I make this in either vanilla or chocolate- whatever her majesty requests LOL


Banana Almond Butter Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

1 Cup Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
3 Tbs organic chia seeds
1 Tbs organic cinnamon flax almond butter (or any nut butter)
1 Tbs organic unsweetened shredded coconut
1 Tbs organic hemp hearts
1/2 organic banana
1/2 scoop plant based protein powder (I use sun warrior or iron vegan)
for chocolate add 1 Tbs cocoa powder
for vanilla you can add 1/2 tsp alcohol free vanilla extract

Method:

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth. Put in a closed container (I use a mason jar) and place in the fridge overnight. The next morning it will thicken and solidify to a pudding like texture. Serve alone or with fresh fruit and granola.

as you  can see she totally digs it

 

I made a chocolate version of my baby pancake recipe- since Lennon is getting older and has discovered chocolate, I thought it only fair that she get to have some...even if its not "real" chocolate, she still doesn't know the difference and Ill keep it that way as long as I can! This is also the updated version as I relaized the one that is posted on here is from when she was an infant- basically the same but I no longer use the baby oat cereal, regular oat flour. These are totally yummy and I make these for hubbs and I as well, not just Lennon!

Chocolate Flourless Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 organic banana
1 organic egg
2 tbs organic oat flour
1 tbs hemp hearts
2 tbs golden flaxmeal
1 tbs almond butter
1 Tbs cocoa powder

Method:

In a small bowl mash the banana, then add the egg and whisk together. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend well til you have a batter. The trick is to keep the pan at medium to low heat, so they don't burn, and keep them small.  Watch them closely, they are not as sturdy as real pancakes, so you have to be gentle flipping them.Just omit the cocoa for the regular version. Top with whatever you fancy.

 

Yum Chocolate!!

Super easy, gluten free, no refined sugar, high protein muffin recipe!

I wanted to make a versitile muffin recipe- basically a base I could use for whatever flavour muffin I choose to put together on a given day. I have succeded! I have tried this with these 2 variations below and they came out awesome. Its a plain base that really any flavour combo could be used. I did a basic blueberry muffin, and a cinnamon raisin pecan with a coconut milk caramel swirl.  Super easy, gluten free, no refined sugar and high protein, what more could you ask for!!

Here is the muffin base recipe:

1.5 Cups Almond Flour

1\4 Cup Coconut Flour

1 Tsp Baking soda

Pinch himalayan salt

2 Tbs Golden Flax

1 Tbs Organic Hemp Hearts

1 Tbs Organic Chia seeds (Optional)

3 Organic eggs

1\4 Cup agave, maple syrup, or honey

1 Tbs grapeseed oil

1\2 Cup organic unsweetened applesauce

1\4 Cup Almond or coconut milk

Method:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together all dry ingredients in a medium bowl, in a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and then add in all wet ingredients, blend well and add into the dry ingredients. Mix well (add in  any extras, spices, fruit, chocolate chips etc....) scoop into muffin tins, bake for 20-25 mins- check with a toothpick after 20 mins, enjoy!

These are the Blueberry Muffins (Just add a handful of fresh or frozen organic blueberries)

 and these are the cinnamon raisin pecan ones (I added a hefty teaspoon of organic cinnamon, a handful of chopped organic pecans and organic raisins)

I had some Coconut milk caramel in  the fridge (coconut milk, coconut palm sugar and vanilla cooked on low until it becomes caramel) and I topped the muffins with a little swirl of the caramel, chopped pecans and a little more cinnamon sprinkle. The hubbs really dug these ones!

Rock and Rolling Pin will be a vendor at The Local Market in Bradford next weekend!!!!

Come check us out, we will have:
Berry chia jam
Cinnamon flax almond butter
Healthy Nutella
Coconut cinnamon protein granola
Spinach, kale and walnut pesto
Power balls: chocolate goji and vanilla cinnamon with collagen
Gluten Free Banana Breads

and some new treats:
Teff Flour double chocolate brownies
Chickpea blondies
Dark Chocolate coconut bark with pumpkin seeds and goji berries
Banana flour chocolate chip cookies

Gypsy Goddess Naturals skin care will also be at our table with our top selling coconut sugar scrub!!

Rock & Rolling Pin Products for Sale!!

I have decided to start selling some of my stuff!! Right now I am just going to be selling at trade shows and taking personal orders, but hoping to have this grow..... like my baby belly!!

This is what is going to be available, so feel free to send me an email; madame.andrea@hotmail.com if interested and I can let you know prices and turnaround time:

Cinnamon Flax Almond Butter
Healthy Nutella
Kale, Spinach and walnut Pesto
Rasberry Chia Jam
Banana Almond Oat Bread
Protein Power Balls (Chocolate Goji and Cinnamon Vanilla Flavour)

Rock & Rolling Pin products will be on sale Saturday April 29, 10:00-4:00pm at the Mayfield West Spring Fair @ Southfields Village Public School & Denison Park, some come check us out!

http://www.mayfieldwestcaledon.com/2016-spring-fair

Chickpea Protein Power Cookies

 Another twist on one of my older recipes from my book- I just amped this one up a bit too, making it a bit more protein packed and powerful! Gluten free, high protein, yummy and guilt free. These come out chewy and delicious!

Chickpea Protein Power Cookies

Ingredients:

2 Cups organic chickpeas
1/4 cup nut butter (I used my cinnamon almond butter)
1/4 cup GF quick cooking oats
2 Tbs Hemp hearts
1 scoop protein powder (I used Sun warrior chocolate)
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 Tbs vanilla
1/4 cup agave or maple syrup
1/3 cup almond milk or milk of choice
handful of chocolate chips (Optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350.  Put everything in a food processor except the chocolate chips and blend well. You can always add in more milk of the mixture seems too dry. It may depend on how big your scoop of protein powder is as the scoops vary from brand to brand. Fold in the chocolate chips and then scoop a heaping tablespoon onto your parchment lined baking sheets.

Once all scooped out, I band the cookie sheet on the counter a few times to get the cookies to flatten down a bit. Like this;

Then pop in the oven on the lower rack for about 12 mins. Then move to the upper rack for another 5-6 mins, I press them down a bit with my hands as they puff up a bit, optional.. Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in the fridge or freezer. They taste good cold too! This is the finished product;

A great snack in between meals or a sweet treat to satisfy your cravings!